The three-game series will begin Friday, August 30 for the Jaspers, as they take-on the Colonials at noon. On Saturday, Manhattan will face McNeese State at 11:00 a.m. and Elon at 2:30 p.m.
Match Notes:
- Manhattan returns eight letterwinners from last year's squad that went 5-27 overall and 3-15 in MAAC play. Six newcomers—two junior transfers and four freshmen—will also hit the court for the first time in a Jasper jersey.
- As a team last season, Manhattan averaged 8.8 kills per set, with 8.1 assists and 1.7 aces per set. On defense, the Jaspers combined for 12.2 digs and 1.6 blocks per set.
- Junior middle blocker Erin Hoener (St. Louis, MO / Incarnate Word) led the squad with 85 total blocks last season, including 23 solo blocks, good for a team best 0.79 blocks per set, which ranked ninth in the MAAC. She added 187 kills on the year, hitting a team-high .237.
- Sophomore hitter Vivian Donovan (Newport Beach, CA / Newport Harbor) led the Jaspers with 224 kills in 32 matches played, averaging a team-high 2.22 kills per set overall and 2.44 kills per set against MAAC opponents on her way to a MAAC All-Rookie Team spot.
- Manhattan welcomes two transfer defensive specialists to the team: Nashally Eleutiza (Orlando, FL / Monroe College) and Katelynn Riner (Kennesaw, GA / Georgia Southern). Eleutiza earned 2018 NJCAA All-America Second Team honors, finishing the year fourth in all of the NJCAA in digs. Last season, Riner ranked second on the Eagles team with 181 digs and posted 16 service aces, while reaching double-digit digs in six matches.
- Earlier this month, Robert Morris was selected to finish fifth in the NEC's preseason poll. The team went 11-18 last season and 5-9 in conference play.
- The Colonials return 11 players this season, including two-time All-NEC First Team selection and 2017 conference Rookie of the Year Emma Granger, a junior middle blocker. Friday's match against Manhattan will be the team's first of the 2019 season, as well.
- McNeese State was picked to finish eighth in the Southland Conference this year, after going 10-22 and .500 in conference during the 2018 campaign.
- In an exhibition against Lousiana Tech last week, Kendall Glueck and Regan Stiawalt combined for 22 kills for McNeese. The Cowgirls were able to grab a set from the Lady Techsters before dropping the match 4-1.
- Manhattan's third opponent of the weekend, Elon, was also tabbed to finish eighth in league play (CAA). The Phoenix returns four starters this season and boasts a 2018 All-Rookie selection in hitter Kellyn Trowse.